Background

Approximately 4,000 degrees are awarded each year in Australia. Postgraduate theses represent a significant proportion of Australia's research activity. However, lack of easy access to this information means other researchers can wait months or years before papers or books describing aspects of the research are published. These publications do not always comprehensively cover the valuable information in a thesis; information which in many cases is then effectively lost.

Theses are an underutilised information resource. A thesis by its very nature is produced in very limited quantities and normally the only copy available is the archival copy deposited in the Library. It is estimated that copies of fewer than 1,500 per year are requested from the participating libraries, even fewer are supplied as the cost and delay factors are a significant deterrent.

The lack of usage is attributed to a number of factors:

• lack of knowledge that the thesis exists
• lack of information about the contents of the thesis
• lack of ready availability

Increasingly, students are using word-processing and desktop publishing and graphics software to produce their theses. These tools also provide them with the opportunity to include multimedia components. However, use of these technologies is limited by the requirements for theses to be submitted in paper format. By changing the procedures for creating and submitting theses, the deposit of theses can be made more efficient and less costly to the student in terms of cost of making multiple paperbound copies. Many examiners would prefer to evaluate an electronic copy but there would still be the option to print copies as required from the electronic version. Importantly, theses will be readily accessible to all interested, worldwide. Some students are already putting their theses up on the web.

A current major US initiative is the development of a Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD). The project which is led by the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University involves a growing number of US universities, University Microfilms International and industry partners. As a result of this work, standards for creation, deposit, conversion, storage, archiving and printing have already been established.
The focus of the NDLTD has shifted from a US based one to a growing international network of universities. Its aim is to improve graduate education, increase sharing of knowledge, help universities build their information infrastructure, and extend the value of digital libraries. Use of the same standards by Australian universities would ensure compatibility with the US and other digital thesis collections.